First, sorry for adding a new thread for this, but I thought my earlier CCC/AC thread below was separate from the "new" issue at hand.

While researching e60.net for possible causes of my A/C issues, it seemed reasonable that I might have snapped my A/C belt at some point. So, I jacked up the car, removed the lower engine cover and started looking around. For the life of me I couldn't see where a separate belt "should" be, and none of the pictures or .pdf links people had posted looked like my car's belt routing. So I started digging around some more and found the attached illustration for my 2006 530i (N52)

That is exactly what my belt routing looks like...so am I correct in assuming that my engine has the A/C compressor integrated with the belt for the alternator and power steering? If so, I guess it's a trip to the dealer while my extended warranty is still in force.

Thanks again for any and all help.

 

'06 530i (N52) has single drive belt that wraps around all pullies.

In the diagram/pdf you attached, the unit on the top left is the AC compressor.

 

Thanks pcy...I assumed that mine was like all the others posted in various threads. I was literally holding my laptop upside down and sideways to try and get it to look like the pictures and diagrams people had posted, until I saw what I assumed (and you confirmed) to be the compressor and did some more research. Even when I found the diagram that I attached though, I wasn't 100% certain, so thanks!

It's actually good news in a way...something "bigger" has to be up with my a/c...and my extended warranty is almost up.

Thanks again!